Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-03-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.

/ make the DeSt use Oh us DTleI ire
by dispensing az much as possible
with business of private character.
Among the important matters that
have had attention during the past
week may be mentioned the Tehuan-
tepec Ship Railway bill, the Rivers
and Harbors bills and the Sundry
Civil, the Anti-Polygamy bill, and
half a dozen measures appropriating
millions of dollars for ships of
war and coast defenses.
The long cherished project of
Capt. Eads passed the Senate by a
decided majority. BY the provisions
Of the bill Mr.. Eads and his associ-
ates are incorporated as the Atlantic
and Pacific Railway Company, with
capital stock not to exceed 800, 000,-
600, no bonds to be issued until the
paid-in capital shall amount to So
100000, The Government is in
nowise committed to the proposition
pecuniarily, and makes no guaran-
tees.
The first Mexican pension was
make by Commissioners Black, and
the beneficiary was ex-senator Will
Iiams, Of Kentucky. Ever since the
battle of Cerro Gordo where he
greatly distinguished himself, he
has been known az "Cerro Gordo
Williams" The application for the
allowance was filed in the Commits
sioner's office at eleven \. M, and
the pension certificate went out in
the afternoons mail for Louisville
the same day.
The clamor for a change of in
auguration day from the 4th of
March to the 30th of April grows
louder as the working days of the
present Congress have become
alarmingly few, and the danger
more apparent that nothing may be
done towards this desirable reform.
The trouble is that if the proposed
amendment does not get through
Congress by the end of this session,
it cannot be ratified by the States in
time to 90 into effect as a part of the
Federal Constitution in the Spring
of 1889. There is no opposition to
the change, but, on the contrary
everybody acknowledges that it
would be Gust lovely" to have the
inaugural ceremonies at the most
delightful time of the year. If the
Republican Senate is willing to ex.
tend President Cleveland's term by
eight weeks, no one can see why
the Democratic House should not
be more so.
The recent broadside which Sen
ator lIoar aimed at his associates
who were derelict about being pres
ent at the Chaplaip's opening prayer
has had the effect of increasing the
number Of Senators in the Cham Der
ut that hour. Ten used to be the
average attendance but now it is
nearly thirty. The Massachusetts,
Senator has been congratulating
| himself over his success, aud has
received warm commentator from
Chaplain Butler who, Of course,
deeply felt the disrespcct shown to
the morning deyotions by this I'M
prayerful body.
Out of the whole Senate full
there are only seven gentlemen who
are always at prayer aud show
noticeable feryor. These are Sena-
tors Plumb, Blair, Hoar, Mcmillan,
Teller, Brown and Gen. Hawley.
The others present seem wondering
all the time how long the prayer is
going to last. While the Chaplain
has the floor Senator Eyarts strokes
his chin and and watches the clock;
Senator Mahone witches neryously
and looks over his papers on the
desk; Senator Vest buttons and I'M
buttons his coat; another is twirling
the ring on his finger or winding
his watch or csressing his mustache
or hunting for something in his